Kaled is a German singer and songwriter from Munich. He is offering a unique feat on his music, lyrics in Bavarian dialect. And we can easily affirm: language is no barrier when a song is so great! Everything about "Kennst mi no" is stupendous, and we just can't stop listening to it! It's our song of the week.
Italian singer Francesca Michielin has done it once more! Her newest single is entitled "Bolivia", and it brings her trademark alternative sounds to Italian pop. The imagery of the video goes along this ethereal line, wrapping up a perfect pack!
Yuliya (often credited as Julia) Olegovna Samoylova is a Russian singer who was born in Ukhta in 1989. She was supposed to represent her country on last year's Eurovision, but issues with Ukraine made the Russians withdraw from the competition. This year, she is finally getting her chance, in Lisbon, with "I won't break". It's a pop song with an epic atmosphere and a memorable chorus.
Wide Eyed Boy are back! The Liverpool-based band returns to Sounds European! with "Sun again", a song in which they explore the best there is in the synth-rock world!
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
Srbuk is the stage name of Srbuhi Sargsyan, Armenian singer and songwriter who was born in Yerevan. Her single "Yete karogh es" is a bit older than the ones we usually present on our site, but we are so addicted to it, it was absolutely impossible not to share it with our readers! It's a stupendous, irresistible song.
German singer Johannes Oerding is touring with his newest album, "Kreise". And he keeps promoting it with amazing singles coming from it! The latest one is "Leuchtschrift (Große freiheit)", a beautiful pop-rock ballad that will send chills down your spine!
When Alexander Rybak won Eurovision in 2009, his "Fairytale" broke basically all the records of the contest. Nine years have passed, and the Belarusian-born star is back to competition, once again representing Norway. His entry is "That's how you write a song", a very fun track which is only possible due to his matchless charisma.
PLYA are Julia, Kristian and Will, a trio hailing from London which will captivate you with their haunting electronic sounds. In "Feast my eyes", they bring an atmospheric indie-pop with a fantastic melody and a great chorus!
Updated on April 7th, 2018, with the official video.
It's time to remeet Italian super diva Emma, who has just released an excellent new single. "Effetto domino" is a powerful pop-rock song with a strong melody and a raw and impressive vocal performance by Emma. It's surely a must-listen!
Sounds European! remeets Romanian singer Aza! And, this time, she features fellow Romanian artist Adrian Sina. The pair recently released the single "Mai iubeste-ma o data", a song that adds some electronic beats to a great R&B ballad.
Sounds European! proudly presents another wonderful single released by British rising star Hatty Keane. "Me!" is a wonderful pop song that offers the best qualities the genre can have: it's intense, passionate and very catchy. A special highlight for its chorus, which is great!
Updated on June 28th, 2018, with the official video.
Norwegian singer Matilda is finally back to Sounds European!! Her most recent single is entitled "Jealous", and it portrays a very entertaining pop melody with retro beats to complete a beautiful song!
Rebecca, Anna, Louiza and Lisa are Lichtblick, the first schlager girl group from Germany. They have just released "Tausend und eine nacht", and it's simply irresistible! Its well-marked melody is fun and involving, and the chorus is very captivating.
Natalia Gulkina is a Russian singer born in Moscow in 1964. With an extensive music career, she is one of the icons of Russian pop. And for her most recent single, she gathered with ILLUSIA, a girl trio hailing from Saint Petersburg. Their single together is "Zadykhayus'", a song that mixes the country's classic rock with modern electronic beats.
Austin Robison, Jonny Lewis, Ryan Hawkins, Cal Verney and Adam Mahadika are Haytor, British indie band from Exeter. "You stay classy", their current single, is irresistible. Instrumentals and vocals work together, in order to make a unique – impressive feat, in such an explored field as rock 'n' roll – and delightful track.
Hailing from Vila Nova de Gaia, João Couto is a 22-year-old singer who found fame after winning the sixth season of the Portuguese version of Idols. After years of hard work, he is now presenting us the first single from his debut album: "Canção só" is a relaxed pop-rock with a retro vibe that makes it all the more enjoyable!
Swedish super star ISA has just released a new single. And no title could be more exact than "Perfect". It is, indeed, as perfect as it gets! It is a song which offers the most contemporary influences of pop with a unique quality. It's a song to listen nonstop!
Uğur Etiler is a Turkish singer born in the city of Mersin in 1995. His most recent single will surely appeal to you: "Biraz zor" is a very interesting piece of ethnic pop, which explodes in a fantastic melody towards the chorus!
Lithuanian duo 2 Donatai are ruling the radios with their single "Man nereikia debesų". And we can clearly understand why: it's an amazing song! It offers a contagious melody, with a fun ambience and a very effective chorus.
The Magic Numbers are a British pop-rock band hailing from Ealing. They reached international fame with their 2005 single "Love me like you", which helped their debut album chart in many countries around the world. Here you can check out their latest release: "Sweet divide" is an atmospheric rock that retains the essence of the Brit pop movement.
Azerbaijani star Eldar has a new single on offer. And it's a lovely one! "I miss you" is a piano-driven ballad which explores different levels of Eldar's talented voice. The result is as touching as a song could be!
Hailing from the city of Koper, Samuel Lucas is a Slovene singer with a very prolific solo career. Check out his most recent single: "Kot nekdaj" is a ballad that plays between the classic Balkan sounds and the influence of rock, conveying a very unique sound.
Sounds European! remeets Italian group Le Deva and their exciting new single. It's entitled "Grazie a te", and it's a very interesting pop, which grows into a strong electropop during the chorus. The overall result is quite catchy!
Two of the biggest Spanish talents gathered in a single together. We are talking about Funambulista and Dani Martin, who have released "Me inventaré". The song is a beautiful rock ballad.
Look who is back! After a three-year break, Swedish star Ulrik Munther is finally back to business. And what a marvelous return! His new single "Before" presents a more mature Ulrik, who has found himself and is offering this true self through great music. It is a wonderful, involving and touching song. We love it to bits!
British singer Tom Walker is enjoying great success with his first single, "Leave a light on". The song is charting this week as #8 in Germany, #6 in Switzerland, #3 in Austria and #2 in France!
British singer Dua Lipa is having a tremendous success all over the world. And, in Europe, her latest single is present in almost every chart: "IDGAF" is this week's #9 in Norway, #6 in Austria and the United Kingdom, #5 in the Netherlands, #4 in Belgium and Ireland and #2 in Portugal!
Russian singer Alexey Vorobyov has recently released a new single! In "Kruglosutochno tvoy", he gathered with Katya Bleyri (born in Saint Petersburg) for an explosion of fun beats and danceable melodies!
Updated on June 10th, 2018, with the official video.
Kosovar singer Yll Limani has just released a new single. And we are in love with it! "Ty" is an emotional song, with a very deep and passionate ambience. Its classy melody, added to his wonderful vocal performance, takes it all to an even higher level.
Romanian singer Amna returns to Sounds European! with a beautiful ballad. "Ma descurc si singura" has a beautiful orchestration and lets Amna show off her stunning vocal skills.
Look who is back! Latvian singer Toms Kalderauskis has finally released a new single. And we couldn't be happier about that! "Ja ļausi" offers a light and fresh ambience, embraced by a quite catchy chorus. His voice is a gift, and it's very well explored on this track.
Barbara Pravi is a French singer hailing from Paris. Her most recent single is entitled "Pas grandir", and it is a delicious pop, very influenced by the sounds of French chanson. The chorus is memorable!
Elina Nechayeva is an Estonian soprano born in Tallinn in 1991. She is going to represent her country on Eurovision with "La forza", an operatic entry which follows the lineage of "Grande amore", "It's my life", "La voix", "Cvet z juga", among other wonderful songs. And it delivers the best the genre can offer to the contest. We are absolutely dazzled: it's our song of the week!
Aleksander Walmann returns to Sounds European! with his most recent single. "Talk to the hand" is a quirky electronic pop with tongue-on-cheek lyrics and a super catchy chorus. The song recently took part of Melodi Grand Prix, finishing in fourth place.
Ukraine knows their way when it comes to Eurovision. Year after year (with very rare exceptions), they are among the favorites to win the festival, or at least grab a top ten. This year, that is happening once again, with MELOVIN and his "Under the ladder". It's a masterpiece of pop, as catchy as a song can be. It sticks to the head after the very first listen!
Updated on April 30th, 2018, with the official video.
Vanja Radovanović is a singer and songwriter born in Belgrade in 1982. He has just won Montevizija, Montenegro's National Final for Eurovision, with the song "Inje". It is a traditional Balkanic ballad that will transport you with its melody!
Waylon is the stage name of Willem Bijkerk, Dutch singer who was born in Apeldoorn in 1980. He was half of The Common Linnets, runners-up of Eurovision Song Contest in 2014. Waylon is now returning to Eurovision, this time solo, with "Outlaw in 'em". It's a great rock song with country vibes. It's such a captivating track!
Updated on April 23rd, 2018, with the official video.
Russian singer Slava is in a very prolific moment of her career. Her most recent single will show you why: "Mal'chik moy" is a powerful electronic pop with a jazz feeling attached that will do the trick to have you hooked!
Sounds European! remeets Spanish band Claim and their amazing new single. It's "Última noche en la Tierra", a delightful pop-rock song with very entertaining melody and instrumentals, and a chorus which is so, so good. We love it!
Saszan is a Polish singer, songwriter and blogger born in Żyrardów in 1994. She has recently released the single "Nie chcę ciebie mniej", a captivating electronic pop. The song also took part of Krajowe Eliminacje 2018, the Polish National Final for Eurovision, finishing in sixth place.
Belarusian star Ruslan Alekhno has a new single on offer. And it's a great one! "My svyazany" is a deep and involving electropop. Its melody is well paced and marking, leading to a very effective chorus. Ruslan's voice is perfect for it all!
The Finnish National Final for Eurovision of this year was made up of three songs by Saara Aalto. We have already reviewed the winning entry, "Monsters", but there was another song that stood out for us: "Domino" is a powerful ballad that lets Saara explore other depths of her vocal range.
Kataya is a Slovene singer, songwriter and actress who was born in Ljubljana and is currently based in Los Angeles. She took part of the Slovenian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar in 2015 and EMA in 2017. She has just released "Na srečo", which is a very enjoyable pop song.
British musicians Sigala and Paloma Faith have gathered for a stunning collaboration. "Lullaby", their song together, is equally captivating, and will take you to the dancefloor in a heartbeat!
Milestone time! Sounds European! now celebrates its reaching 7000 posts. And, as it's our tradition, our celebration happens with posting a song with the achievement's number. So, it's time for French band Indochine and their "7000 danses".
It seems that Croatian singer Marko Kutlić can only release outstanding singles. We have just got to listen to his new release "Usne tvoje" and we are fully thrilled! It's a delightful pop-rock song, with great instrumentals and a chorus which is as catchy as one can be. It's a song to listen nonstop!
Caner Kızıl hails from Istanbul, Turkey. His most recent single is entitled "Olaylar olaylar", and it is a fantastic mix of ethnic sounds, current pop and electronic beats. It will be impossible not to dance along this one!
It's time to remeet Bulgarian star Grafa, who has gathered with Slatkaristika (stage name of Marko Marinkovic, Macedonian artist who was born in Skopje in 1986) to record and release a new single. "Kvartalni dzhentŭlmeni" is a fun pop-rock song with a captivating melody and a memorable chorus.
Serendinschi is a Romanian singer hailing from Valenii de Munte. Listen to his most recent single: "Piesa mea de dor" starts as a soft R&B pop and evolves to a more movemented chorus. The overall work is simply amazing!
Sounds European! remeets British singer Dan Owen, who has another awesome single on offer. "Icarus" is an outstanding song, with a chorus which is as catchy as one can be, and a perfect vocal performance by Dan. We are totally addicted to it!
Orry Jackson is a singer born in Germany and developing his career in Austria. His most recent single is entitled "Nur zu zweit sind wir eins", and it brings together pop and R&B beats with a contemporary electronic melody.
Finnish star Jannike is back with a new single. And we couldn't be more in love with it! "Sorry for yourself" is an excellent song. It has the exact structure a perfect song should have, with great verses, a wonderful bridge and a very catchy chorus. It's surely a must-listen!
Dan Vozniuc and Viorel Grecu are two musicians hailing from Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. They have been collaborating together in some singles, the latest of them being "Anonima". The song is an emotional ballad with R&B beats and an explosive chorus.
Greek star Demy has a new single on offer. It's entitled "Orio kanena", and it offers a different side of Demy, exploring retro vibes of pop and dance music in a very interesting way. The result is extremely captivating!
Simon Lewis was born in Vienna in 1992. Singer and songwriter, he was involved with music from a young age, and pursued a career in bands and playing streetmusic. Listen to his most recent single: "All I am" is an easy-listening mixture of pop and soft rock which creates a beautiful atmosphere as it plays!
We are proud to present a great new talent coming from the United Kingdom: it's Beth Keeping, singer and songwriter from Surrey. Her "Dodged a bullet" is pop as it should always be: captivating, catchy, involving... in one word, wonderful!
British singer Anne-Marie is becoming the Midas of electronic pop. She was recently featured in Marshmello's "Friends", and the song became an instant hit. It's this week's #10 in Belgium and Bulgaria, #7 in Finland and Portugal, #4 in Norway and the United Kingdom, #3 in Austria, Ireland and the Netherlands and #2 in Germany!
It's time to take another look at the charts around Europe! And, this week, there is one song standing out almost everywhere: it's Drake's "God's plan", which is this week's #7 in Belgium and France, #6 in Bulgaria, #4 in Austria and Finland, #3 in Germany and Norway, #2 in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and #1 in Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom!
SALT is a Russian-born singer and songwriter who is developing her career in London. Judging by her debut single, "Silver bullet", we are watching the rise of a new star. She delivers pop at its best form! It's such a catchy and addictive song!
Llywelyn Ap Myrddin, Tom Havelock, Guillaume Jambel and Dan Radclyffe are PREP, British band from London. Their proposal is to fuse elements of R&B, funk and jazz into a melting pot of blissfully-styled pop. And you can surely find it all (and even more!) on their single "Don't bring me down". It's a highly entertaining song, which mixes retro and contemporary music all over. We can't stop listening to it!
Portuguese band The Code is living a very prolific moment. And it's not only quantity: it's quality, too! Their new single "Vai" offers one more sample of that. Deep and involving ambience, wonderful lyrics, great instrumentals and perfect vocals... everything about it is outstanding!
Martha Ffion is an Irish-born singer and songwriter, who is now based in Glasgow. She has just released a new single, entitled "Baltimore", which is part of her new LP, "Sunday best". It's a delightful track, with Martha's voice shining all over. It gives a unique retro-meets-current vibe which we adore!
It's time to remeet Croatian band Pravila Igre, and another amazing single of theirs. "Kako nam stvari stoje" offers groovy beats and melody, wrapped by a well-paced and very captivating chorus. It's such an enjoyable song!
Sennek is the stage name of Laura Groeseneken, a Belgian singer born in Leuven in 1990. She was the first confirmed artist for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, and she has recently unveiled her selected song. "A matter of time" is a James Bond-inspired track which will have you on tenterhooks from beginning to end! We love it to bits: it's our song of the week.
Aysel Mammadova is AISEL, Azerbaijani singer who was born in Baku in 1989. She is going to represent her country on this year's Eurovision. Her entry "X my heart" is one of the most straight-forward pop songs of the edition. It's impossible not to enjoy these three minutes!
Kate Mirson is the stage name of Catarina Silvério, Portuguese singer from Benavente who was born in 1997. Her greeting card in the music world is "Broken one", and we couldn't be more in love with it! It's a touching piano-driven song with lovely melody and a wonderful vocal performance. We love it!
Romanian star Nico has a great new single on offer! "Suflet pereche" is a pop ballad with an endearing melody and a very captivating chorus. Nico's performance is sober, delightful and perfect for the track. It's surely a must-listen!
Time flies! We first met Czech singer Mikolas Josef when he was giving the first steps of his career. Now, he is one of the main candidates to win this year's Eurovision. No wonder why: his "Lie to me" is absolutely irresistible. It all sticks to the head after the very first listen!
Sounds European! finally remeets Swedish duo Kastrup, with their new single "Lucas". And what a great song it is! Its melody is very contagious, and the chorus is especially captivating. The overall result is irresistible, and it'll make you want to listen to it over and over again!
This song doesn't have an official video on YouTube, but you can listen to it on Spotify.
Ari Ólafsson is an Icelandic singer who was born in Reykjavík in 1998. He is going to be his country's representative on this year's Eurovision, in Lisbon – spot he has granted after winning Söngvakeppnin 2018. It's a beautiful song, with simple but effective instrumentals and a touching delivery by Ari.
Aleksandar "Sanja" Ilić is a Serbian composer and keyboardist who was born in Belgrade in 1951. He founded the group Balkanika in 1998. Together, they will represent Serbia on this year's Eurovision Song Contest with "Nova deca". It delivers Balkan folk music at its most perfect form!
It's time to meet Iliana, young new talent coming from Romania. And there couldn't be a better way to get to know her than with her new single. "I won't lie" is one of the sweetest songs we have ever listened! Voice, melody, chorus... everything is extremely endearing!
Lora Karadjova is a Bulgarian singer who was born in Sofia in 1982. We have just got to listen to her single "Vizhdam te", and it was instant love! It's a groovy pop song with a wonderful mix of retro elements and contemporary sounds.
Ryan O'Shaugnessy is an Irish musician born in Skerries in 1992. Despite his young age, he has had a steady career since 2001, participating in many reality shows (such as The Voice in Ireland and Britain's Got Talent) and releasing several singles. Ryan will represent his country at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with his most recent single, "Together". The song is a beautiful and tender ballad!
SuRie is the stage name of Susanna Marie Cork, a singer and songwriter born in Harlow in 1989. After participating in the Eurovision Song Contest as a back-vocalist for Belgium in 2015 and 2017, she now has the chance to shine by herself representing the United Kingdom. And she will do so with the song "Storm", a soft contemporary electropop.
Cesár Sampson is an Austrian singer born in Linz in 1983. He will represent his country at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Nobody but you", which was recently released. The track is a contemporary R&B ballad that lets Cesár dazzle us with his voice!
Some weeks ago, Albanian-born singer Eleni Foureira was confirmed as the representative of Cyprus in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. And here we have her entry: the song is "Fuego", a very danceable song that plays with electronic pop, some ethnic sounds and Spanish language. We dare you not to move your body to this one!
Nikos Zades is a Greek singer who was born in Athens in 1988. He has just released a new single, entitled "Dyo lekseis", and we couldn't be more excited about it! It's an energetic song with very captivating melody and chorus.
Spanish singer David Otero is back to our site! And, with his newest single, you are bound to dance it all: "Jardín de flores" mixes his catchy indie tunes with a retro disco-inspired base, creating a more than appealing melody!
Born in İzmir in 1986, Derya Uluğ is a Turkish singer who will conquer you with her powerful music. In "Ne münasebet", she delivers that characteristical blend of pop and ethnic sounds that we melt for!
Swedish project HUMAN returns to Sounds European! with a mind-blowing new single! We are talking about "Ghost", co-written by Avicii and which became a hit in Scandinavia thanks to its pop explosion and marking beats.
Irish singer Niall Horan keeps promoting his first solo album, "Flicker", with a new single. We are talking about "On the loose", a song that keeps the retro country vibe of his previous releases but adds a contemporary electropop melody. The result is a fantastic track!
After a long time without being featured on our site, we were thrilled to see Julia Beretta had released another single! We are talking about "Dikaya", a very involving electropop.
Romanian singer Ilinca returns to Sounds European! with another side of her talent. In "Nu acum", she gives us an emotional ballad with a contagious R&B base.
Portuguese band Fingertips are back to Sounds European! with a very different sound. "My everything" brings them to a soulful ballad in which they talk about the power of music to heal hearts. Beautiful song, beautiful message!
Hailing from Reijkavik, Icelandic singer BRÍET is one of the upcoming talents in the local music scene. She has dazzled us with her first release: "In too deep" is a gem of trap, indie and alternative sounds!
We remeet Spanish singer Antonio José in another amazing single. We are talking about "Me olvidé", a song which starts as a classic Spanish ballad and evolves to a more agitated chorus in which Antonio oozes emotion.
Saara Aalto is a Finnish singer born in Oulunsalo in 1987. She is a star not only in her native Finland (where she placed second in the local version of The Voice in 2012), but also in the United Kingdom, where she came runner-up in the thirteenth season of X Factor. After becoming one of the hottest pop singers in her country, she was selected to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest later this year with the song "Monsters". The track is a wonderfully produced electronic pop that will have you dancing in no time!
It's finally time to begin our 2018 season of interviews! And there couldn't be a better way to start it: we had the chance to talk to one of the most talented new artists rising in the Norwegian music scene. These are our 10 questions for Hanne Leland:
Sounds European!: Let's start from the beginning. How was your relationship with music during your childhood? Who were your music idols when you were growing up? Do you feel they influenced, in any way, the singer you came to be?
Hanne Leland: I have always been obsessed with music. I can't remember not singing. I grew up on a farm far out on the countryside in Norway, and I think growing up outside of the city made me extra creative, as I had to make my own fun. My childhood heroes were Britney Spears and Destiny's Child, I thought they were the most amazing performers (and they really are!!), so I felt super inspired by them. When I got a little older, I started listening to Alanis Morissette and Tori Amos and got into songwriting. I have been heavily shaped by female artists.
SE!: You started singing and playing instruments at a very young age. How did it happen? What are your first memories of singing and playing? What instruments do you play? And when did it hit you that you wanted to take music as your career?
HL: Looking back, I see that music was a large part of my identity already as a kid. I started singing along to these Norwegian children songs when I was super little (that's my first memory of singing), and then when I was like eight or nine, I started making up my own songs. I would sing them in front of anyone who would listen. When I got a little older, I started taking lessons in piano and guitar, and got involved in the local music community. I still play a little guitar and piano, but I usually just use it for songwriting purposes, and leave it to the pros when I'm performing. I've always wanted a career in music. I have always been very determined, and have never really considered doing anything else.
SE!: The first steps of your recording career took place in the United States. And you showed a lot of personality: you gave up a fully-recorded album for not liking its result. Is it hard to stay true to yourself, as an artist, when you are starting a career?
HL: That was such a difficult choice, because I had spent three months in the United States recording a full album, and I just wasn't happy with the sound of it. So I decided to throw it away, and start all over again. It was definitely not an easy decision to make, but I'm happy I did, because the songs and the production weren't good enough. I went to Nashville, and went to writing sessions and recorded new material.
It's definitely hard staying true to yourself as an artist, especially when you're new in the game. There are so many people with so many different opinions on what you should and shouldn't do, and you can't listen to them all. Ultimately, you just have to go with your gut feeling.
SE!: After that first attempt, you went to Nashville and finally released an album, with country music. Later, you switched your work to pop and electropop. Why did you change? And do you feel you've found your genres with pop and electropop? Or is there a chance of your switching genres again in the future?
HL: I grew up listening to both country and pop music, so I always thought I wanted to make a country-pop album. I love the storytelling aspect in country songs, and writing country-pop came really natural to me. But after that first album, I felt like I wanted to do something different. I'm just as much a pop girl as I'm a country girl, and I thought that if I kept the storytelling aspect and my identity in my songwriting, it would still feel authentic to me to switch to electro-pop. It was a natural transition. Scandinavia has so much great pop music, and I guess I was inspired by that as well. I definitely feel like pop is my genre now. I'm going to stick to making pop music, and experiment within that genre.
SE!: You have already based yourself in Norway, United States, United Kingdom... Do you feel your international experience has affected your production? What do you think each of these countries contributed to the music you make nowadays?
HL: I've worked with producers from all over the world, and I think that has affected my sound. I think I have a little bit of the American pop sound in my music, as I've worked in the United States a lot. But I also think you can hear the Scandinavian sound in my songs, as that's such a big part of my identity. I just try to make great pop music that tells a story and has purpose in it. I don't think too much about whether it sounds Norwegian, American or British, as long as it's great.
"I don't think too much about whether it [my music] sounds Norwegian, American or British, as long as it's great" (Picture: Maddie Cordoba)
SE!: Your home country, Norway, is becoming one of the most proficient nations when it comes to electropop. How do you see the relationship between Norwegian artists and audience and electropop? Is it easier to promote your music in a country which has embraced your style?
HL: Norway is doing amazing in the international music scene these days, and that's super exciting. It's great to be a Norwegian artist these days, because people actually listen to Norwegian pop music now, and it hasn't always been that way (Sweden used to rule the pop charts internationally). The fact that Norwegian artists are doing well internationally benefits all Norwegian artists and songwriters. Everyone's paying attention to what comes out of Norway now.
SE!: What are your professional projects for the near future? What can your fans expect from you in 2018?
HL: I'm releasing a lot of new music! I have a new single in May. More news will be announced on my website, www.hanneleland.com, so bounce over there and sign up to my newsletter to get the updates first! :)
SE!: Looking a bit further in the future, what are your biggest dreams? What do you still want to achieve as an artist?
HL: I want to make music that matters and I want to reach as many people as possible with it. I also want to play at stadiums, and release more albums. I want to have a really long career.
SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Norwegian and international artists you would like to collaborate with?
Jessica Elisabeth Andersson is a Swedish singer who was born in Spånga in 1973. She was part of the duo Fame between 2002 and 2006, before starting her solo career. This year, she took part of Melodifestivalen (the Swedish National Final for Eurovision) for the seventh time, with "Party voice". And what a banger it is! It's pop as we expect Sweden to deliver. The song ended as 11th place, but it totally deserved more.
Whenever French star Louane releases new music, our expectations grow. And she never disappoints! "Immobile" is a guitar-driven song with an extremely captivating chorus. And this song is only this great because of Louane, who adds her beautiful voice to it perfectly!
Sounds European! remeets Czech singer Pavel Callta and his brand-new single "Doteky". It offers great instrumentals, which grow into a very captivating chorus. Pavel's unique voice fills it all with even more quality!
German duo Parallel have gathered with one of the country's biggest stars, Cassandra Steen, to record and release a new single, entitled "Eine sprache". And what a great song it is! It's a perfect match of instrumentals and vocals!
Two young French rising stars got together for an outstanding new single. It's Nemo Schiffman and Nilusi (from Paris, former Kids United) with "Stop the rain". It's an excellent pop song, with a chorus which is surely one of the best ones we've listened this year. We are totally addicted: it's our song of the week.
Ukrainian singer Sofia Kutsenko is ready to blow your mind with her new single "Tam budemo". It offers a unique set of melody and instrumentals, as we are not used to get from Eastern Europe, wrapped by her very talented voice. It's excellent!
British rising star Tom Grennan has just released a new single. And it has dazzled us once again! "Sober" offers an excellent melody, led by wonderful instrumentals, and a chorus which sticks to the head after the first listen. We love it, we love it, we love it!
Spanish singer Lucia Gil has just released a new single. And it's a true banger! "Seré" is pop at its most perfect form, with a captivating melody and ambience, great beats and a chorus which is as catchy as one can be. It's a song to listen on repeat!
Latvian star Dana Sokolova has just released another excellent single. It's "Golos", featuring Russian rapper, former basketball player L'ONE, from Krasnoyarsk. It's an extremely strong song, with a chorus which is absolutely irresistible!
Italian duo Benji & Fede have joined Italian rapper Shade, from Turin, to record and release a new single. And let us say: it's one of their best singles to date! "On demand" is pure entertainment, and its video clip follows the same rule. We love it!
Greek star Anastasios Rammos has a great new single on offer. And it's surely a must-listen! "Ta kala paidia" offers traditional Greek folk pop, but with its own twist, giving it a melody which we don't usually found in Greece. It's great!
Look who is back! Serbian singer Marija has another banger on her hands: it's the single "Louder than a drum". It's a fresh, entertaining pop song with great melody and a very catchy chorus. The overall result is awesome!
Finnish star Ellinoora has just released a new single, and we couldn't be more thrilled about it! "Nartut" offers well-marked beats which lead Ellinoora's great voice into a unique journey, exploding into a very captivating chorus.
Sounds European! remeets Italian band Finley, with their wonderful new single. It's entitled "Keep calm and carry on", and it offers a great mix of pop, rock and electronic. It's impossible not to get addicted to it, especially to its chorus!
Ozan Doğulu is a Turkish DJ and arranger who was born in Istanbul in 1972. He has just joined forces with Murat Boz to record and release "Hey". It's a catchy and entertaining pop song with awesome Turkish elements.
Swedish star Oscar Zia has a new single on offer, and we are very excited about it!"Det går aldrig" is a contemporary pop song with great spices of electronic, making its beats as addictive as they could be.
It's time for another great single coming from Spain: it's Au/Ra and "Panic room". It's a very interesting electropop song, with a dark and haunting ambience and a mysterious vibe. Au/Ra adds a unique approach to this kind of music!
Maite Kelly is a German singer who was born in Berlin in 1979. She was a member of The Kelly Family, before starting her solo career in the end of the 2000s. We are in love with her new single! "Liebe ist liebe" is a sweet ballad with an endearing melody and chorus.
It's time to remeet Greek star Giorgos Giannias, and his great new single. "Pano sta sirmata" is a folk pop ballad, with the best Greek music can offer. Its chorus is very powerful, and Giorgos's voice is perfect for it all!
Some times, National Finals for Eurovision hide other treasures than the song the country selects to go to the festival. It's exactly the case of Malta, this year: Christabelle's "Taboo" is going to be their entry in Lisbon, but it wasn't the only amazing candidate they had. "Dai laga", by the young and talented Aidan Cassar, is surely a must-listen! It's a groovy, captivating and quite addictive song. We can't stop dancing to its melody!
Dutch singer Tom Tukker is back with a new single. And that can only mean one thing: good music is on its way! "Head up high" is a gift to the ears, offering a well-marked, entertaining melody, a catchy chorus and a perfectly fit vocal performance by Tom. We love it!
Look who is back! Ukrainian singer Ksana has just released a new single, and it's as great as one can expect. "Na mizintsakh" offers a perfect mix of intense melody and great vocals. Its chorus is especially catchy!
Updated on January 9th, 2019, with the new stage name of the artist.
Sonohra are an Italian duo from Verona, formed by brothers Diego and Luca Fainello. They rose to prominence after winning the newcomers section of Festival di Sanremo in 2008, with "L'amore", song which became a hit in several countries. Their most recent single, "Per ricominciare", is very beautiful! Its melody is endearing and their vocals fit it all perfectly.
Juliander is a Swedish singer from Stockholm. Even though he is a newcomer, he has already accumulated experience, touring with Zara Larsson and being a guest vocal on Alan Walker's "All falls down". Now, we listen to his "Same Moon", a beautiful song which displays all of his talent. It's surely a must-listen!
Jonas Flodager Rasmussen is a Danish singer and actor born in Viborg. He has recently won the traditional Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the country's National Final for Eurovision, with the song "Higher ground". The single tells the story of a viking tale and mixes pop and folkloric sounds, creating a masterpiece of music!
Yianna Terzi is a Greek singer and songwriter born in Thessaloniki in 1980. With a career spanning 14 years, she was recently announced as Greece's entrant for this year's Eurovision Song Contest with "Oneiro mou". The track is a haunting mixture of alternative and ethnic beats which creates an involving atmosphere!
Updated on March 10th, 2018, with the official video.
Time to remeet Ukrainian singer ALEKSEEV! Earlier this year, he won Eurofest (the Belarusian National Final for Eurovision), and thus earned the right to represent Belarus in the continental festival, with "Forever". The song is a strong electropop with a very memorable chorus.
Updated on March 10th, 2018, with the official video.
